CONTRIBUTED

The 30th annual Autumnfest will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, at Downtown Park in Southern Pines.

The festival will feature some of the best entertainment Moore County has to offer. In addition, the festival will have something for everyone: arts and crafts, live entertainment, rides, a One-Mile Fun Run/Walk, a 5K Road Race, Kids Races, and more.

Headlining Autumnfest entertainment at 3 p.m. will be Moore County's own beach and boogie band, The Sand Band. The Sand Band is one of the premier beach music bands of the Carolinas that plays a variety of dance music, blues, and classic rock 'n' roll, but their calling card is the music of the Carolina coast -- Carolina Beach Music. The band members are David Kellis, Steve Lapping, Daryl Lemonds, Rick Martin, Henry Baldwin and Tim Short.

Other groups to appear at Autumnfest will be the AM Nightshade at 10 a.m., Sandhills Harmony Chorus at 10:30 a.m., Happy Dan the Magic Man at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., Carolina Performing Arts Center at noon, Fine Blue Line Bluegrass Band at 12:30 p.m., Martial Arts Academy demonstration of Tae Kwon Do at 1:30 p.m., Terpsichore-A Moving Experience at 2 p.m., and Martial Arts Academy demonstration of Hapkido Jiu-Jitsu at 2:30 p.m.

In addition to the entertainment, Interactive Playgrounds will provide inflatable rides and other games for kids of all ages, such as the Super Obstacle Course, Inflatable Joust, Clubhouse Combo, and Double-Shot Basketball.

Road Race, Walk

For the more active, Autumnfest will offer a One-Mile Fun Run/Walk and a 5K Road Race, with an all-new route. The One-Mile Fun Run/Walk steps off at 9:30 a.m. and is free of charge.

The 5K Road Race will begin at 9:50 a.m. and will wind through Southern Pines into horse country and back. The cost of the 5K is $15 the day of the race. The race entrance fee includes an Autumnfest T-shirt. Race registration on the day of the event will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the Downtown Park's Rainey Shelter. Awards will be presented at 11:30 a.m. at the Autumnfest stage.

For ages 3-12 years old, there will be the Autumnfest Kids Races. These races will be held between the 5K and the awards ceremony, around 10:30 a.m.

The races will vary in distance by ages, but none over 100 yards. Registration will take place that morning at Autumnfest and is free of charge.

Crafts and Food

This year's selection of crafts runs the gamut from traditional woodworking to flashy outfits styled with colorful jewels.

"Choose something for yourself or a friend as you stroll through the rows of booths," says a spokesman.

Some of the items being sold include yard ornaments, pottery, dried flowers, pen-and-ink drawings, stained glass, jewelry, holiday ornaments, hand-sewn items, quilts, and more.

"If all of the walking doesn't whet your appetite, certainly the aroma of steak and peppers, hot dogs, cotton candy, fried dough, pizza, and snacks will," says the spokesman. "Enjoy a tasty treat and thirst-quenching drink at the food court."

The annual fall event is presented by the Arts Council of Moore County and Southern Pines Recreation & Parks Department, and sponsored by Aberdeen Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Johnny O's Awards, Sandhills Trophy and Sports and Embarq.?